Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers in Pune are worried that they might have to campaign for the Congress if the party president Raj Thackeray decides to support the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in April-May.
Senior party leaders said, “It would be embarrassing for MNS workers to go to Congress Bhavan and campaign for the alliance. It is true that the party had taken a stand against the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, but it will still be difficult for MNS workers to actively campaign for the Congress party as well, in the city.”
Anil Shidore, MNS state general secretary, said that party has not decided if it wants to contest from Pune yet. If the party decides on a candidate from Pune, party workers would campaign for him or her. The party president would take a call on it, Shidore added.
Babu Wagaskar, MNS state general secretary, said, “The party has not cleared its stand on whether it wants to contest the elections or support someone for the Pune seat. Whatever decision is taken by the party president Raj Thackeray, workers would follow it. In our party, workers only follow instructions.”
Other leaders said that the party has a good base in the city and the party’s candidates have managed to capture third position in the last two Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and 2014.
{{/usCountry}}Other leaders said that the party has a good base in the city and the party’s candidates have managed to capture third position in the last two Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and 2014.
{{/usCountry}}Other city-level workers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that it would be difficult to campaign for other candidates, if the party decides to not contest for the Pune seat. Pune’s seat is with the Congress party. If party supports the Congress and the NCP in the Lok Sabha elections, it would be really embarrassing for party workers to go to Congress Bhavan and actively campaign for someone else, they added.